It's Time for the Twins to Turn Kendry Rojas Loose

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

When the Minnesota Twins acquired Kendry Rojas from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline, they were betting on upside. The controversial trade that sent Louis Varland to Toronto also brought Alan Roden to the organization, but Rojas was viewed as the potential long-term prize. A fringe top-100 prospect, he featured a mid- to high-90s fastball, a devastating slider, and the kind of raw stuff that made scouts believe he could eventually settle into the middle of a major-league rotation.

There was always one major concern, though. Rojas struggled to consistently throw strikes, and that issue has followed him to Minnesota. Between Triple-A St. Paul and the Twins, Rojas has walked 44 batters in just 43 2/3 innings. The electric arsenal is still there, but the command hasn't improved enough to convince the organization he can handle the workload of a traditional starting pitcher.

If the Twins truly believed Rojas was part of their future rotation, they'd be developing him like one. Instead, they've done the opposite. Since joining the organization, Rojas has bounced between starting and relieving, without ever really fitting either role. In his two major-league starts, he lasted just two innings and four innings, respectively. With the Saints, he's started five games but has never been allowed to throw more than four innings, usually exiting after just two or three. Even when he's come out of the bullpen, he hasn't been used as a traditional late-inning reliever. Instead, he's worked one to three innings as a piggyback option or long reliever after an early exit from another pitcher.

That hybrid role is arguably the least valuable one a pitcher can fill. He's not providing the length teams expect from a starter. Nor is he being trusted to record the biggest outs at the ends of games. Instead, he's stuck somewhere in the middle, where neither his development nor his impact is being maximized. At some point, the Twins need to decide what they believe Rojas is, because the current plan isn't a long-term solution.

The organization's usage tells the story. Teams don't consistently pull starting pitchers after two, three, or four innings unless they have concerns about their ability to turn a lineup over multiple times. Rojas has premium velocity and an excellent slider, but he doesn't yet have the command, demonstrated durability or complete pitch mix to profile as a traditional starter. There's nothing wrong with that. Plenty of talented pitchers have found greater success after moving to the bullpen. In fact, the Twins have already shown exactly how to maximize this type of arm. Ironically, the blueprint belongs to the same pitcher they traded away to acquire Rojas.

Louis Varland also entered professional baseball as a starter. When that role didn't fully click, the Twins tried him as a multi-inning reliever, before eventually committing him to one inning at a time. That's when everything changed. Without worrying about pacing himself for multiple trips through the lineup, Varland was able to attack hitters with maximum effort. His velocity ticked up, and his best pitches became even more effective. The result was one of the best late-inning relievers in the American League. There's every reason to believe Rojas could follow a similar path.

He's already capable of reaching the upper 90s while pitching multiple innings. In a one-inning role, it's easy to envision him sitting comfortably in the upper 90s, while occasionally touching triple digits. More importantly, he wouldn't need to rely on a deep arsenal. He could lean heavily on his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, allowing his two best pitches to play at their highest level, instead of trying to navigate hitters multiple times with inconsistent command.

The timing also couldn't be better. The Twins suddenly have an opening for another impact left-hander after Anthony Banda landed on the injured list with a lat strain earlier this week. A power lefty capable of missing bats late in games is something every contender covets, and Rojas has the raw talent to become exactly that if the organization commits to the transition.

Right now, though, the Twins are getting the worst of both worlds. Rojas isn't developing into the type of starter who can consistently give the club five or six innings, and he isn't being allowed to become the high-leverage reliever his stuff suggests he could be. He's simply existing in between those roles, and that isn't helping either the player or the organization.

The Twins don't need another hybrid pitcher. They need impact arms, especially in the bullpen. Rojas has all the ingredients to become one, if the organization is willing to stop trying to force him into a role that no longer appears realistic. It's time to pick a lane.

Turn Kendry Rojas into a true one-inning reliever. Let him attack hitters with his fastball and slider. Let him throw every pitch at maximum effort, instead of worrying about saving something for the fourth inning. The Twins already followed this exact formula with Varland. The irony is that the player they acquired in exchange for him may need the very same treatment.

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What do you think? Should the Twins commit to Kendry Rojas as a late-inning reliever, or would you continue trying to develop him as a starter? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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[jorgenswest]

I think he is more valuable as a starter and would keep that door open. It is true that like Varland he may need to go to the bullpen. Varland made that conversion at age 27. Rojas is 23.

[DJL44]

They’re stretching him out to put him in the rotation. That’s reasonable when Mike Paredes is getting starts and Connor Prielipp is getting skipped to keep his innings down.

[tony&rodney]

Maybe Rojas takes Banda's spot. Rojas is flammable though. The transition back to a starting pitcher could always begin anew after the current season. The experience at the MLB level could be valuable.

[old nurse]

A starter is more necessary than a reliever. Development wise he likely should be in AAA. They need him in the majors. He hasn’t yet shown he doesn’t belong as a starter. That is why he is being used as he is  

[thelanges5]

Are they keeping him stretched out because they’re planning on trading Joe Ryan?

[Glorybound]

Is he healthy enough to turn loose? He is relatively young yet so I think they are trying to be careful not to compromise his future. It’s not like his team is in first place and he is needed to keep his team on top of the division.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Very compelling argument for moving Rojas into a one inning relief role. I agree that should be done immediately. But it must be emphasized to him by LaTroy over and over that walks are the bane of one inning relievers.

[Dman]

Hasn't Rojas been on the IL a couple of times already this year.  I'd say the reason they are being careful is to keep him healthy.  The Twins are in a tough spot with Rojas IMO.  While a starter has more value they need to likely keep his innings down to protect his arm and putting him in the pen could jeopardize his development as a starter to some degree.

Given the Twins need both a starter and bullpen help they sure could use him in either role.  Maybe they keep the piggy back with Paredes or maybe they just give him a pen role for now.  Hard to say, but it seems hard to see him starting much this year given the control issues and likely pitch limits he will be on. 

A bullpen role might be the way to go given they need help there.  Or if this season goes south in the next couple of weeks it won't matter as they will be out of contention and they can develop him without rushing him.  Have to wait and see how the season goes and how badly they think they need him in one of those two roles.

[HerbieFan]

In the times I've seen him pitch his stuff screams late-inning, high-leverage reliever.  And then he starts walking people.  Until (If?) the command improves the hybrid role might be the best spot for him.

[rdehring]

Why?  For all we, or probably the Twins know he could be their ACE a few years from now.